Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! We’re currently building our next escape room, [REDACTED], a brand-new adventure over 1,000 square feet, right here at our downtown Frederick location. No opening date yet, but it’s coming, and it won’t be the last. We secured additional space for game #6 after that. 

Operation Jingle Bells is open year-round. It’s a permanent, full-scale escape room built to the same standard as every other game at Clue IQ, with custom sets, layered puzzles, and high-tech effects. The Christmas theme is the setting, not the season, so you can save the holiday in the middle of July, and plenty of teams do. It’s also our largest-capacity game, holding up to 12 players, which makes it a favorite for bigger groups any time of year.

Our escape games are designed to be immersive experiences, featuring a variety of puzzles crafted primarily for adults and teenagers. Here are our guidelines regarding age:

• Children under 13 years old are absolutely welcome to join the adventure, but any group that includes players under the age of 13 must have at least one adult participating in the game with them. While puzzles are designed with older players in mind, younger team members often bring a fresh perspective and can contribute unique ideas. As it’s truly a team game, younger players will need the help and collaboration of older kids and adults to successfully navigate some of the challenges, making it a truly collaborative and fun experience for everyone.
• Children 6 years old and under do not require a ticket. However, it’s crucial to understand that our games are not designed for very young children and are not play areas. For their safety and to ensure the integrity of our game elements, young children must be closely supervised by an adult at ALL times. If they are not being adequately supervised, an adult from your party will be asked to remove them from the game, and no refunds will be issued in such instances. Please make other arrangements if you do not believe you can supervise your children and play the game at the same time.

Yes, absolutely! We are proud to have always offered fully private gaming experiences since opening in 2017. You will never have to share your adventure at Clue IQ with strangers; your booking guarantees a game exclusively for your group.

Yes, absolutely! At Clue IQ, our #1 goal is to ensure you have a fun and unforgettable experience. We believe hints should always enhance your adventure, which is why we never limit the amount of help your team can receive!

Each game includes a dedicated Game Host, expertly monitoring your progress from our mission control center. They are always ready to offer a timely hint or a subtle nudge when you need it. We pride ourselves on crafting a unique way of interacting with your team that perfectly fits within the world of the game you’re playing, ensuring seamless and immersive assistance.

No, absolutely not! Your safety and comfort are our top priorities at Clue IQ. You are never truly locked in any of our games. Our rooms are specifically designed and built to ensure you always have a clear and free way to exit safely at any time, whether it’s for an emergency or simply to step out for a moment.

Furthermore, our games are mission-based, like most modern escape rooms. This means your goal isn’t to “escape”,  but rather to accomplish a specific objective within the story of your adventure.

The short answer is NO! Escape rooms at Clue IQ are designed to be fun adventure games above all else. Forget what you might have seen in movies – our focus is on exciting puzzles and immersive stories in real life adventure games. Our focus is on fun above all else.

Our only experience that is even remotely “scary” is Crane Manor. We understand everyone has a different tolerance for being scared, but we classify this game as “light spooky,” not truly scary. None of our other experiences are meant to have any scary parts.

We are committed to making our immersive escape games enjoyable for as many people as possible. We strive to provide an accessible experience, and specific accommodations include:

• Wheelchair Accessibility: Our facility is wheelchair accessible, allowing navigation throughout all of our games. Please note that as we are located downtown, there is no dedicated handicapped parking available directly at our building. Once inside, someone in a wheelchair can navigate all game areas, though they may require assistance with certain specific game elements during gameplay.
• For Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Guests: We ensure that all video content within our games is fully subtitled. Additionally, any puzzles or hint mechanics that primarily rely on audio cues can be presented in text form upon request, ensuring full participation.

If your group requires any special accommodations, we kindly ask that you please leave a detailed note about your needs when making your booking. This allows our team to prepare accordingly and ensure you have the best possible experience.

We understand that every escape room experience is unique, and we pride ourselves on what truly makes Clue IQ stand apart.

Our foundation is built on deep passion: Clue IQ owners, Steven and Lisa, are avid escape room enthusiasts themselves, having played over 700 games across 22 states and multiple countries. Steven’s involvement on the board of directors for ERGO, an international organization dedicated to best practices in immersive entertainment, further highlights our commitment. Simply put, we care about escape rooms, a lot.

We strive to create games that are among the most immersive, adrenaline-filled adventure experiences you will ever play. Our dedication to excellence has been recognized by industry leaders like Room Escape Artist, TERPECA, Bullseye, and Morty.

Our rooms are custom-built from the ground up, featuring a large variety of engaging puzzles, including unique mechanical and technological secrets. We offer some of the most technologically advanced games in the region, filled with truly magical moments. We also dedicate ourselves to ensuring our games are consistently logical and engaging, with continuous updates and improvements to deliver the best possible experience for our guests.

Transparency is key to our quality. You can even check out detailed photos of our actual game rooms before you buy tickets – we pride ourselves on the quality of our games and never hide behind stock images.

As a locally owned and operated business, we are not a franchise or chain; Steven and Lisa work full-time directly overseeing every aspect of Clue IQ, ensuring a personal touch in every adventure.

We invite you to come experience the Clue IQ difference for yourself – your unforgettable adventure awaits!

Our pricing model offers an automatic group discount, meaning the per-person cost decreases as your party grows. The final price depends on which game you choose and the number of players in your group.

• For all of our 60-minute escape games, prices range from $32 – $54 per person.
• Crane Manor, our extended 75-minute escape game, is priced separately, ranging from $36 – $60 per person.

We believe in transparent pricing and never add any hidden fees or service charges. Please note, however, that the State of Maryland does impose a 10% Admissions & Amusement tax on all tickets.

You can secure your reservation with a simple $50 deposit. We understand that guest counts can fluctuate; you can always adjust your final party size when you arrive to play, ensuring you only pay for the people who are actually able to attend.

Game difficulty is quite subjective, as every team approaches puzzles differently! Our goal at Clue IQ is to create a fun and engaging experience, not a frustrating or impossible one. We ensure that groups of all experience levels can have a fantastic time, as we offer unlimited hints from your dedicated Game Host who is happy to provide guidance whenever needed.

All of our 60-minute escape games are designed to be similar in overall difficulty, but they each offer a different play style that might suit certain groups better:

• Blitzkrieg is our most linear game, which often makes it a great choice for smaller teams or groups that want to stick together.
• Operation Jingle Bells is a wide-open, multi-linear game, typically well-suited for larger teams or groups who want to divide and conquer.
• Excalibur features elements of both play styles.

When choosing your game, we recommend focusing on the theme that is most interesting to your party! While overall difficulty is subjective, considering the play style that best fits your group’s size and communication preferences can also enhance your experience.

Crane Manor, our 75-minute escape game, is the only experience specifically designed to be more challenging than our other games. We generally do not recommend Crane Manor for first-time teams or for two-player teams unless they are experienced escaper room players.

Our game capacities vary by experience:

• Operation Jingle Bells has a maximum capacity of 12 players.
• Crane Manor and Excalibur have a maximum capacity of 10 players.
• Blitzkrieg has a maximum capacity of 8 players.

While these are the maximums, we also provide a recommended team size for the best experience under the details section of each game. Generally, more experienced teams may find success with a smaller group. Please note that while the choice is yours, we strongly discourage two-player teams for Crane Manor due to its larger scale and complexity

The duration of your escape game experience at Clue IQ in Frederick, MD varies slightly:

• Three of our games have a time limit of 60 minutes.
• Our extended game, Crane Manor, has a time limit of 75 minutes.

Beyond the game itself, you should also expect:

• A brief instructional and onboarding period when you arrive.
• A brief debriefing period once your game is complete, which includes a free team photo inside the game.

Please note that every team plays at a different pace. Some teams may finish much faster than others, while some may not complete the game within the given time limits. Therefore, we cannot guarantee your exact total time within the game.

Yes, Clue IQ primarily operates by appointment, and we strongly recommend creating a reservation before coming to our facility.

Our staff are often busy assisting other guests, or we may be fully booked at popular times. Attempting to walk in without a reservation means there may not be anyone available to assist you or an open game slot.

If you’re looking for a last-minute game, you can always call us directly to check for any short-notice availability. You can reach us by phone or text at 240-815-4658.

Weather can be tricky, as our guests travel from many different locations to visit us. Our policy accounts for both our operational status and your individual concerns:

• If Clue IQ is Forced to Close: In the rare event that we are forced to close due to severe inclement weather, all affected reservations will be given the option to either reschedule without a fee or receive a full refund. This is an exception to our standard no-refund policy.
• If You Are Concerned About Weather in Your Area: If you are concerned about weather conditions impacting your travel, we recommend waiting to make a reservation or rescheduling if you already have one. Our standard cancellation and rescheduling policy applies in these instances:
  • For changes made with 48+ hours notice, you can reschedule your game without a fee, or receive store credit (valid for 6 months).
  • For changes made less than 48 hours before your scheduled booking, any cancellation or rescheduling will result in the forfeiture of your payment.

Please remember, all sales are final, and there are no refunds, except in the specific case where Clue IQ is forced to close due to weather.

We understand that plans can change! Please review our booking modification policy:

• For Cancellations (48+ hours notice): You can cancel your game for any reason with at least 48 hours notice prior to your booking. We will issue a store credit for the amount you paid, sent to the email address used for the reservation. This credit will be valid for 6 months.
• For Rescheduling (48+ hours notice): To reschedule your game to a different date or time, at least 48 hours notice before your original booking time is strictly required. To make changes, please reply directly to your original booking confirmation email. Be sure to include all necessary details such as your preferred new date, time, and game.
• Within 48 Hours of Your Booking: Once you are less than 48 hours away from your scheduled game, any cancellation or rescheduling will result in the forfeiture of your payment, with no exceptions.
• All sales are final, and we do not offer refunds.

You have several convenient parking options nearby:

• East All Saints Street Garage: Located directly across the street from us at 125 East All Saints Street. Parking is regularly $1/hour
• Street Parking: Our building is at the corner of East All Saints Street and South Carroll Street. You’ll find plenty of metered street parking along both of these streets. Meters are free after 5 PM Monday–Saturday and all day Sunday*.
• Clue IQ Lot Parking (Limited): We have a small, attached lot with two designated Clue IQ parking spaces. These spaces are “double-stacked,” meaning two vehicles from the same party can park one behind the other. If your group arrives in multiple vehicles, please utilize this by parking behind each other. Important: If the designated Clue IQ spots are already occupied, please use the garage or street parking options instead – do not park behind vehicles that are not part of your party. You may not park anywhere else in the parking lot.

*Please note: While we strive for accuracy, details regarding garage and metered parking hours and pricing are subject to change without our knowledge. Always follow the instructions and signage posted at the garage or meters themselves, as that information will supersede what is listed here. For the most current official garage parking details, please refer to the City of Frederick’s official parking information page: https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/1342/Garage-Parking

To ensure you have the most comfortable and enjoyable experience during your adventure, here are a few guidelines:

• What to Wear:
  • There is no strict dress code, but we recommend wearing comfortable clothing that allows you to move around easily.
  • Closed-toed shoes are highly recommended for your safety and comfort, though not strictly required.
  • For the comfort and safety of all guests, all participants are required to wear shoes, a shirt, and pants (or equivalent lower body covering) at all times.
• What to Bring (or Leave Behind):
  • We generally recommend leaving non-essential personal items at home or secured in your vehicle.
  • Players may take personal items like small purses, wallets, or cell phones into the game if they wish.
  • Absolutely no outside tools or materials are required or permitted for gameplay. Everything you need to solve the puzzles is provided within the game itself!
  • Clue IQ is not responsible for any personal items players choose to bring with them into the game.

Yes, you can absolutely replay our games! At Clue IQ, we are inspired by the video game world and apply a philosophy of iterative design, treating our escape games as ongoing projects. This means they are constantly evolving with updates, enhancements, and improvements over time.

While the core theme, story, and setting of a game will remain familiar, individual puzzles may be added or removed, the game flow might be tweaked, and new lighting or sound effects could change the atmosphere. We constantly work to improve our games. Most of these changes are small on their own, but over time, games can evolve and become quite different from what they might have been several years ago. At times, we may even briefly close a game to implement larger changes.

We find that some players quite enjoy revisiting a game years later, or bringing new friends and taking on more of a passive role for the parts they know. However, if you are replaying a game, we strongly advise you not to rely on your memory! Instead, simply play as you normally would, as elements may have changed, offering a fresh challenge and new surprises.